Hybrids use two powertrains--in the U. S, that's generally a gasoline engine and electric motors. Together, they aim to reduce fuel consumption by using smaller engines which spend less time running, while maintaining or improving performance thanks to electric assistance. To go some way to fixing the misinformation and lack of information, we've had a think about things everyone should know about hybrid vehicles.
Don't feel bad if you're looking at this list in bewilderment--everyone has to start somewhere. And buy yourself a drink if you already knew them all! If you'd like to know about other efficient vehicles, why not check out our guides to things everyone should know about electric cars , and things everyone should know about diesels? While the diesels we covered the other day are at their best in highway driving, many find the opposite to be true with hybrids.
With an electric motor to deal with low-speed driving, some hybrids can spend large amounts of time using no gasoline at all, in the city. Not every hybrid can do this--mild hybrids like those from GM and Honda can't run entirely on electricity, for example--but even then, the assistance of an electric motor means you'll use far less gasoline getting about than in an equivalent non-hybrid. The aerodynamic forms of many means long periods at highway speeds can also be surprisingly fuel-efficient, and higher electric-only speeds of some vehicles means you might not use much gasoline on shorter, higher-speed trips either.
Is this myth still floating about? Unfortunately so--many people think that buying a hybrid new, let alone second or third-hand, means you'll soon be paying half the value of the car to replace the batteries.
That simply isn't the case. Not only do hybrid batteries last an inordinately long time in most cases--even under duress, like those in New York taxis --but they no longer cost the earth to replace if the car is in your tenure by the time its battery needs replacing.
And really, there's not enough data around to even suggest it'll definitely need replacing--in many cases, the car itself might be past its use-by date before the battery expires. One of the things many people enjoy about hybrids is how easy they are to drive.
Just because there's plenty of complication under the hood, it doesn't mean you'll need a quantum physics degree to operate them. Of course, for those that like more of a challenge, most provide you with displays showing just how much power you're using, turning gas-saving into a videogame-style challenge. As a result, the resale value of such vehicles keeps increasing. Lighter cars: Hybrids are manufactured with lightweight materials, which allow vehicles to run on less energy.
Their smaller sized and lightly built engines also contribute to conserving energy. The mechanism allows the driver more time between manual recharges. Less power: Hybrids combine both an electric motor and a gasoline engine, with their gasoline engine primarily operated as the power source.
Therefore, neither the gasoline engine nor the electric motor works as strongly as they do in conventional gasoline or electric cars. Higher running costs: Due to their engine and continuous development in technology, it may not be easy to find a mechanic with the required expertise.
And they would likely charge you a little more for maintenance and repairs. Most strong hybrids will have a choice of power modes, too, ranging from eco to power, enabling the driver to choose maximum efficiency or performance depending on the driving conditions.
However, if you do a lot of motorway miles you may be better off with an efficient diesel car. For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Help us find the best electric car public charging service by telling us about your own charging experiences in our EV public charger survey. Everyone from Toyota to Porsche sells hybrid cars these days, but which models should you consider and which should you avoid?
The Seat Leon, our favourite family hatchback, is now available as a plug-in hybrid. We're living with one to find out if it's the pick of the range. Does that make it a match for its Volvo XC60 rival?
What Car? View all new car reviews. How do hybrid cars work? Parallel hybrid cars. This also means they have lower greenhouse gas emissions, making the car tax cheaper and benefiting the environment.
However, the real-life level of fuel efficiency , emissions and miles per gallon MPG achieved all vary depending on the type of hybrid, as well as speed and driving style. This automatically optimises engine speeds and gear changes for maximum efficiency.
Another fuel efficiency trick in hybrid cars is stop-start technology. This allows the petrol engine to be shut down when the car is stationary, saving fuel in traffic. This depends on the type of hybrid. Most, including series and plug-in hybrids, use the petrol engine to create electricity and charge the battery. Plug-in hybrids can also use a mains electric source too.
Parallel hybrids are different because they only charge the battery by capturing excess energy and converting it to electricity. Excess energy that is usually wasted when the car is idling or decelerating is instead stored in the battery for later use, for example: regenerative braking.
Regenerative braking is a method of recouping the energy lost during braking and storing it as electricity in the battery. When you apply the brakes in your car, the kinetic energy that was being used to drive the car forward is no longer needed.
It usually dissipates as heat in the brake pads. But regenerative braking technology in a hybrid car can turn it into electricity. It works like this: when you press the accelerator, the battery provides electricity to turn the motor, which turns the wheels. When you take your foot off the gas, or apply the brakes, this process goes into reverse. Electricity to the motor is cut and instead the wheels transfer their kinetic energy to the motor, essentially transforming it into a generator to send electricity back to the battery.
Regenerative braking is not ideal for sudden stopping, so all hybrids also have standard friction brake discs to stop the car quickly. Most hybrids use batteries made of nickel-metal-hydride NiMH , rather than the lead-acid used in normal car batteries. But plug-in hybrids, and more modern conventional models, are using lithium-ion Li-ion batteries. These can hold more energy in the same space, creating higher battery capacity and a greater driving range.
A common myth about hybrid cars is that the batteries are short-lived, and expensive to replace. But actually having to replace the batteries is extremely rare.
Toyota sells the Prius with up to an year unlimited mileage warranty. And in , Consumer Reports tested a nine year old Prius with over , miles on the clock and found the battery performance was almost as good as new.
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